Here you can keep up with the latest from Reading’s 1000+ voluntary organisations and other voluntary sector news from around the area.
Queen Victoria Fund Reading (QVFR) – Grant Application Deadline 9 October 2026
3 September 2026
QVFR provides funds for public health initiatives that help combat health inequity. Organisations working within communities and neighbourhoods in the Reading Borough and Earley Town Council areas are eligible for funds to support their work. This might include perinatal inequalities, positive action on obesity and weight loss, alcohol misuse, children’s nourishment and child socialisation. QVFR will ...
Community Awards 2026 – nominations open until 24 September 2026
2 September 2026
To nominate an individual or community group in one of the categories below, please email admin@utulivu.co.uk or raveena@mojatu.com by 24 September 2026.
Reading’s annual canvass is underway – deadline 30 November 2026
2 September 2026
Find out more on the RBC website: Electoral Services Annual Canvass 2026
The Kings Award for Voluntary Service 2027
2 September 2026
Nominations for The King’s Award for Voluntary Service 2027 have opened This is the highest award given to voluntary organisations across the UK and is the equivalent to the MBE. Nominated groups must meet the following criteria to be eligible for this Award. Each group must: be made up of three or more people be based in the UK, ...
Free employability support programme for neurodivergent 19-25 years olds in Reading
1 September 2026
Pathways to Potential is a new employability programme designed with neurodivergent young people, for neurodivergent young people. We believe that everyone has unique strengths, talents, and potential, and that finding the right career is about much more than simply getting a job. Through personalised support, practical workshops, supported work experience and one-to-one coaching, we help young people ...
Henry Smith Foundation – Maternity Equity Fund – deadline 14 October 2026
20 August 2026
The new Maternity Equity Fund is part of the Henry Smith Foundation Getting Started programme, which supports early intervention from conception up to and including birth, helping give babies and families the best start in life. Who is eligible to apply? Applications will be considered from charitable organisations registered in and working in the UK, including: Registered charities ...
Free taster DJ and Broadcasting Sessions for young people on 1 Sep
20 August 2026
Gold Dust Hub CIC are hosting free DJ and Broadcasting sessions this Summer, designed to give young people a hands-on, inspiring introduction to the worlds of basic DJing, Broadcasting, and Music Production. This program is a fantastic way for young people to discover their creative potential and gain real-world experience in a warm, safe, and supportive ...
De-escalation Training – in a trauma informed context
19 August 2026
RVA will be hosting free de-escalation training for those working for or volunteering in charities or community groups in Reading. Provisional date: 17 November, 10am – 1pm, at RISC The aim: to help you adequately respond to situations that may arise in your charity when delivering your services, whether one-to-one or group services, in a way that ...
Fundraising Forum Nov 2026 – online via Zoom
19 August 2026
A forum for those who are responsible for fundraising within Reading’s charities This will be our second Forum following the session in July. This Fundraising Forum is for those who lead on fundraising in Reading’s charities who would like to discuss specific fundraising related themes and for peer networking. We run three forums per year and the ...
Berkshire West Safeguarding Children Partnership – new Reading Threshold Guidance
19 August 2026
There is new Reading Threshold Guidance, which is available on the Berkshire West Safeguarding Children Partnership website: https://www.berkshirewestsafeguardingchildrenpartnership.org.uk/scp/threshold-guidance/reading-threshold-guidance. The guidance has been developed to support practitioners across the partnership to make informed decisions about the levels of need, appropriate support pathways, and referrals into services. It is intended to provide a consistent framework and common language when ...
Trustee Training with RVA – Nov 2026
19 August 2026Trustees play an essential role in our society, making our charity sector work. It’s a hugely rewarding role but it’s not always easy to get all the information you require to be sure you are carrying out your role as effectively as possible. This training will help give you an overview of what’s expected of ...
Safeguarding and DBS checks: update to the legal definition of ‘regulated activity’ when working with children
18 August 2026
From 1 September 2026 the law will change with reference to the definition of ‘regulated activity’ when working/volunteering with children. The current definition is that certain activity is not regulated activity if it is appropriately supervised by someone else who has a full DBS check in place. This will change from 1 September 2026 so that ...
Men as carers – could you help to shape this project?
18 August 2026
Healthwatch Reading and Wokingham Borough are working in collaboration with Reading and Wokingham Borough Councils and Age UK Berkshire to explore the experience of unpaid male carers. Carers UK defines an unpaid carer as someone who is providing unpaid care and support to a family member, partner, friend, or neighbour who is disabled, has an illness or long-term condition, ...
Volunteer Stories – Oisin telephone befriender with Berkshire Vision
13 August 2026
Being visually impaired makes someone far more likely to be socially isolated. The Berkshire Vision telephone befriending service seeks to combat this by matching its members with a volunteer who calls each week (or however often works best) to make sure they have someone to talk to. Oision has been a Volunteer Telephone Befriender for two ...
Become our Treasurer and help us strengthen our finances and increase our impact
13 August 2026
RVA is seeking to appoint a new Treasurer to join our experienced trustee board The Treasurer oversees the financial affairs of Reading Voluntary Action and ensures they are conducted in accordance with legal requirements, good practice, and the organisation’s ethical values. RVA employs an in-house bookkeeper. The Treasurer supports the board in maintaining sound financial management ...
Land, Bridge Street, Caversham – third sector bidding process, deadline 12 October 2026
12 August 2026
Reading Borough Council asset disposal – third sector bidding opportunity Property freehold: Land, Bridge Street, Caversham, Reading RG4 8AA Open for applications: 12 August 2026 Deadline for applications: 12 noon on 12 October 2026 Reading Borough Council will commence the 8-week bidding process for the sale of the freehold land at Bridge Street, Caversham. How to submit a proposal If you ...
Reading Road, Woodley, Land– third sector bidding process, deadline 12 October 2026
12 August 2026
Reading Borough Council asset disposal – third sector bidding opportunity Property freehold: Land at Reading Road, Woodley, Reading, RG5 3DB Open for applications: 12 August 2026 Deadline for applications: 12 noon on 12 October 2026 Reading Borough Council will commence the 8-week bidding process for these freehold premises. How to submit a proposal If you are a local Voluntary or Community ...
Caversham Court Stables – third sector bidding process, deadline 12 October 2026
12 August 2026
Reading Borough Council asset disposal – third sector bidding opportunity Property leasehold: Caversham Court Stables, Church Road, Caversham, RG4 7AD Open for applications: 12 August 2026 Deadline for applications: 12 noon on 12 October 2026 Reading Borough Council will commence the 8-week bidding process for these leasehold premises. How to submit a proposal If you are a local Voluntary or Community ...
Congratulations to Berkshire MS Therapy Centre on their Safe and Sound Award!
12 August 2026
We’re pleased to share that Berkshire MS Therapy Centre have recently undergone an external review of their governance as a charity and successfully been awarded the Safe and Sound Good Governance Award! Well done to the whole team. In this article we took the opportunity to interview trustee Ros Hatt on her experience and what ...
Callington Road, Land – third sector bidding process, deadline 12 October 2026
12 August 2026
Reading Borough Council asset disposal – third sector bidding opportunity Property freehold: Land at Callington Road, Reading, RG2 7AQ Open for applications: 12 August 2026 Deadline for applications: 12 noon on 12 October 2026 Reading Borough Council will commence the 8-week bidding process for these freehold premises. How to submit a proposal If you are a local Voluntary or Community Sector ...